Detachable clamp for mounting an electrical device on a conductor



D 1969 E. O. SCHWEITZER. JR $485,463

' DETACHABLE CLAMP FOR MOUNTING AN ELECTRICAL DEVICE ON A CONDUCTOR Filed March 6, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1969 E. o. SCH-WEITZER, JR "3,485,468

- DETACHABLE CLAMP FOR MOUNTING AN ELECTRICAL DEVI-CE ON A CONDUCTOR Filed March 6, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 15 441 #41545 /gi 9 )3 I M United States Patent DETACHABLE CLAMP FOR MOUNTING AN ELEC- TRICAL DEVICE ON A CONDUCTOR Edmund 0. Schweitzer, Jr., 1002 Dundee Road, Northbrook, Ill. 60062 Filed Mar. 6, 1968, Ser. No. 711,075

Int. Cl. F161 3/08; F16g 11/00; A441) 21 /00 US. Cl. 24874 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE For securing a current responsive device to a current carrying conductor, a resilient clamp of plastic or spring wire is secured to the device and arranged for ready attachment to and detachment from the conductor.

Among the objects of this invention are: To provide for clamping a current responsive device or the like to a current carrying conductor the diameter of which may vary over a relatively wide range or to a similar device in a new and improved manner; to arrange for application and removal of the device to and from the conductor by manipulation of a live line tool; to form the clamp of one piece plastic or of spring wire; to employ a generally E-shaped configuration for the clamp with the end sections bowed to receive the conductor in the bights thereof and secured at their distal ends to the device with the intermediate section arranged to react against the conductor; to arrange for the intermediate section to urge the conductor against one branch of each of the end sections; to surround the intermediate section with a friction sleeve for the purpose of reducing slippage between the device and the conductor; to provide a bowed part intermediate the ends of the intermediate section to center the conductor in the bight thereof; and to provide a reverse turn entrance section at the section of the E- shaped configuration.

According to this invention a one piece E-shaped clamp of plastic sheet or spring wire has the distal ends of U- shaped end sections fastened to a current responsive device or the like with the back portion of the E-sha-pe' reversely curved to provide an entrance for a conductor or the like between this back portion and a surface of the device. The intermediate portion of the E-shape is arranged to react against the conductor and clamp it against the surface of the device or against it and against adjacent branches of the U-shaped end sections. A friction sleeve is telescoped over the intermediate section to reduce slippage between it and the conductor.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a view, in front elevation, of a device, such as a current responsive device, constructed as shown in my application Ser. No. 653,971, filed July 17, 1967, provided with a clamping member constructed in accordance with this invention. FIG. 2 is a view, in side elevation, of the construction shown in FIG. 1, the conductor being shown in section. FIG. 2A shows a modification of a portion of the clamping member. FIG. 3 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, but showing how the current responsive device is applied to the conductor. FIG. 4 is a view, in rear elevation, of the current responsive device and shows the construction of the clamping member. FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, showing a current responsive device having a slightly longer arm and arranged to be provided with a clamping member of somewhat different construction. FIG. 6 is a view, in side elevation, of the construction shown in FIG. 5, the conductor being shown in section. FIG. 7 is a view, in rear elevation, of the current responsive device shown in FIG. 5, the clamping member being shown. FIG. 8 is a view, similar to FIG. 6, and shows the manner in which the "ice current responsive device is applied to the conductor. FIG. 9 shows a modification of the clamping member provided with a friction sleeve.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, the reference character 10 designates a conductor arranged to carry current, either alternating or direct, and to be energized at voltages ranging upwardly from 115 volts to several thousand volts. For indicating when a predetermined current flow has taken place in the conductor 10 a current responsive device, indicated generally at 11, is arranged to be applied to the conductor in such position that it can be influenced by the magnetic field generated there around as the result of current flow therethrough. The current responsive device 11 comprises plates 12 and 13 of suitable plastic material that are arranged to house the mechanism of the current responsive device. They are arranged to be secured together by screws 14 and bolts 15. An arm 16 extends laterally from the plate 13 and is provided with an eye 17 for receiving a hook 18 of the live line tool that is indicated, generally, at 19. The live line tool 19 is of conventional construction and is employed for manipulating the current responsive device 11 and applying it to or removing it from the: conductor 10.

This invention has to do particularly with the provision of an E-shaped resilient clamping member that is indicated, generally, at 22 and is arranged to detachably secure the current responsive device 1.1 to the conductor 10. The clamping member 22 is formed of plastic sheet material which may be polyethylene, nylon, one of the fluoro carbons or the like. The clamping member 22 in cludes U-sha-ped end sections 23 and an intermediate section 24 with these sections being joined by a back section 25, thereby providing the E-shaped configuration. The back section 25 is formed to provide a reverse turn entrance portion 26 for the purpose of facilitating application of the assembly to the conductor 10. Each of the end sections 23 has arms 27 and 28 with a bight 29 therebetween for receiving the conductor 10 therein as shown in FIG. 2. Laterally extending distal ends 30 of the arms 28 are apertured for receiving the bolts 15 which serve to secure the E-shaped clamping member 22 in the rear side of the current responsive device 11. Alternatively, as shown in FIG 2a, the distal ends of the arms 28 can be provided with inturned ends 31 for receiving the bolts 15.

When the current responsive device 11 is to be applied to the conductor 10, the live line tool 19 is secured thereto and the assembly is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow 32 in FIG. 3 to position the reverse turn entrance portion 26 in engagement with the conductor 10. Continued movement in this direction forces the resilient E-shaped clamping member 22 to flex about the laterally extending distal ends 30 of the arms 28 so that the conductor 10 is positioned between the back section 25 and the rear surface of the current responsive device 11. The movement in the direction of the arrow 32 continues until the conductor 10 is located within the bights 29 of the arms 27 and 28 in which position the intermediate section or resilient finger 24 reacts against it and holds it in position against the arms 28 of the end sections 23. The final position of the conductor 10 depends upon its diameter as is apparent from a consideration of FIG. 2. The live line tool 19 then is detached and the current responsive device 11 is held in position on the conductor 10 by the resilient action of the clamping member 22 and particularly by the resilient action of the intermediate section or resilient finger 24.

In FIGS. 59 there is illustrated, generally at 36, an E- shaped resilient clamping member that is formed of spring wire. Preferably the spring wire is non magnetic in character when the clamping member 36 is employed in connection with the current responsive device 11 as mounted on the current carrying conductor 10. The current respon sive device 11 is similar in construction to that shown in the preceding figures except that the arm 16 is somewhat longer for a purpose that will be apparent presently.

The E-shaped clamping member 36 includes U-Shaped end sections 37 and an intermediate section 38, these sections being commonly joined by a back section 39 which provides a reverse turn entrance portion 40 to facilitate application to the conductor 10. Each end section 37 includes arms 41 and 42 that are joined at a bight 43. Laterally extending distal ends 44 of the arms 41 terminate in loops 45 through which the bolts 15 project. It will be noted that the bolts 15 are positioned at the upper end of the current responsive device 11 rather than at the lower end as illustrated in FIGS. 14.

With a view to reducing slippage between the conductor and the intermediate section 38 of the clamping member 36 a friction sleeve 46, FIG. 9, is telescoped thereover. The friction sleeve 46 may be formed of rubber-like material such as neoprene.

In order to center the conductor 10 with respect to the current responsive device 11 the intermediate section 38 of the clamping member 36 is bowed as indicated at 47. In this embodiment of the invention the conductor 10 is urged against a rear surface of the current responsive device 11 at a position opposite the bight of the bowed portion 47 and this position remains the same within a substantial range of diameters for the conductor 10. However, the bights 43 in the end sections 37 readily accommodate the conductor 10 therein.

When the current responsive device 11 is to be applied to the conductor 10, the live line tool 19 is attached and the assembly is moved in the direction indicated by arrow 48. The reverse turn entrance portion 40 engages the conductor 10 and is moved away from the rear surface of the current responsive device 11 as indicated in FIG. 8. The movement of the assembly in the direction of the arrow 48 continues until the conductor 10 is in the bowed portion 47 as shown in FIG. 6. The live line tool 19 then is disconnected from the current responsive device 11 which is left in place on the conductor 10.

As pointed out the spring wire clamping member 36 is formed of non magnetic spring wire when used for holding the current responsive device 11 in position on the conductor 10. When it is desired to reduce the magnitude of the current flow required to operate the device 11, the clamping member 36 is formed of magnetic material. This provides a magnetic circuit that extends partially around the conductor 10 and increases the available magnetic flux for a given current flow.

While the clamping members 22 and 36 have been described as being particularly applicable for attaching and detaching a current responsive device to a conductor, it will be understood that these clamping members can be employed for other applications. For example the clamping members 22 and 36 can be secured to stationary supports such as a wall and arranged to receive the shank of a tool such as the handle of a hammer, etc. Also the clamping members 22 and 36 can be mounted horizontally rather than vertically.

What is claimed as new is:

1. Means for detachably clamping a current responsive device to electric current carrying conductors of varying diameters comprising an E-shaped resilient clamping member having the end sections of U-shape, each end section having the distal end of one of its branches extending laterally for fastening to said device, adapted to receive said conductor in the bight thereof in overlying relation to said device, and having a reverse turn portion at the distal end of the other of its branches forming the back section of said E-shape to facilitate application to said conductor, and

the intermediate section of said E-shaped clamping member extending from said back section for juxtaposition to said device and overlying said conductor to clamp it against said device.

2. Clamping means according to claim 1 wherein said intermediate section of said E-shaped clamping member is arranged to react against said conductor to urge it against the inner sides of said one branch of said end sections.

3. Clamping means according to claim 1 wherein said E-shaped resilient clamping member is formed of plastic material.

4. Clamping means according to claim 1 wherein said E-shaped resilient clamping member is formed of spring wire.

5. Clamping means according to claim 1 wherein a friction sleeve is telescoped over said intermediate section of said E-shaped clamping member.

6. Clamping means according to claim 1 wherein said intermediate section of said E-shaped clamping member is bowed intermediate its ends to center said conductor in the bight thereof.

7. The clamping means according to claim 1 wherein said E-shaped resilient clamping member is formed of non magnetic spring wire.

8. The clamping means according to claim 1 wherein said E-shaped resilient clamping member is formed of magnetic spring wire.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,323,454 7/1943 Chambers 21141 X 2,265,393 12/1941 Place 2473 2,387,892 10/l945 Ellis 248-316 X 2,511,801 6/ 1950 Churchill 2481 FOREIGN PATENTS 556,847 10/ 1943 Great Britain. 885,372 Great Britain.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

